Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, the Center for American Progress lost a dear colleague, loving husband and father, and powerful advocate for Puerto Rico. Enrique Fernández-Toledo, the director of the Puerto Rico Relief and Economic Policy Initiative at CAP, brought passion, expertise, humor, and kindness to our workplace and this critical work. The employees of CAP and CAP Action were privileged to work with Enrique, a fantastic colleague and a great human, and very kind to all around him. He leaves behind a wife, Mayra, and three children, Enrique Jr., Carlos, and Mayrita. He will be deeply missed.
Neera Tanden, president and CEO of CAP, said:
It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of our friend and colleague, Enrique. Since joining us at CAP in early 2018, he challenged us to do more to improve the lives of all Puerto Ricans. Enrique leaves an indelible mark on our institution and will continue to inspire us do more for his native Puerto Rico that he so loved. We will miss his kindness, collegiality, insights, and his spirited support of our mission.
Erin Cohan, vice president and chief of staff at CAP, as well as founder of the Puerto Rico Relief and Economic Policy Initiative, said:
We are devastated by the untimely loss of this incredible human being. Enrique was a mentor to me and many others at CAP, with unmatched policy expertise that will benefit our work for years to come. He was a true progressive and fought every day, in solidarity, to ensure his work focused on justice and human rights and centered the voices of vulnerable populations. Last year, several of us were fortunate enough to spend a week in Puerto Rico on a trip led by Enrique, where we were able to see the island through his eyes and all returned with a stronger commitment to fight for Puerto Rico.
For more information, please contact Claudia Montecinos at [email protected] or 202-481-8145.